Corrected version
Author Curtis Wilkie says his new book about the downfall of former Mississippi attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs is a story without a hero.
Wilkie told a packed house at Turnrow Book Co. Thursday night that “The Fall of the House of Zeus: The Rise and Ruin of America’s Most Powerful Trial Lawyer” is “a very ugly, sad story.”
“Somebody told me, ‘You’ve written a book without a hero,’” Wilkie said. “I think I have. There are a number of people who have tried to portray themselves as heroes. I don’t think there is a hero in the book.”
Scruggs pleaded guilty in 2009 for his role in an attempt to bribe two Mississippi judges, including Judge Henry Lackey. He was sentenced to five years in federal prison. Among the others pleading guilty in the case were Scruggs’ son, Zach Scruggs; New Albany attorney Tim Balducci; and former State Auditor Steve Patterson.
Wilkie, a native of Clarksdale, was a reporter for The Boston Globe for 26 years. He now teaches journalism at the University of Mississippi.
His appearance at Turnrow was taped for an upcoming episode of C-SPAN’s “Book TV.”
“Many of the people in this case are friends of mine,” Wilkie said. “They may be former friends by now.”
Wilkie said there’s no doubt that Scruggs was guilty. But he also called Scruggs, who made millions through mass lawsuits against the tobacco and asbestos industries, “a lightning rod” and “a powerful man with powerful enemies.”
Scruggs cooperated with Wilkie on the book, giving him hours of exclusive interviews. Wilkie also interviewed, among many others, prosecutors in the case. He said he also obtained recordings of FBI wiretaps and documents including transcripts of grand jury testimony.
Lackey, who played a pivotal role in the prosecution of Scruggs, has called the former attorney “scum” and “a monster,” Wilkie said. Lackey apparently was not happy with the way Wilkie portrayed him in the book.
“Judge Lackey, I understand, and other people have accused me of taking $750,000 from Dick Scruggs to write this book,” Wilkie said. “I thought it was funny when I was first told about it. Then I thought about it, and it’s insulting.”
Wilkie said he was “ready to take on Henry Lackey or any of his confederates.”
Wilkie talked at length about P.L. Blake, calling the former Greenwood farmer “the mystery man in this whole story.”
Among the mysteries surrounding Blake is how he gained his wealth. What is known is that he was a former member of the late U.S. Sen. James Eastland’s organization. Even after Eastland’s death, Blake still wielded enormous power in state politics. U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran and former U.S. Rep. David Bowen both sought and received Blake’s help before running for office.
In his book, Wilkie writes, “Despite his connections, Blake was seldom quoted and rarely photographed.” The photograph of Blake in Wilkie’s book is a 20-year-old one he obtained from the Commonwealth.
Blake and Scruggs had financial and legal dealings going back to the 1980s. When Scruggs won his settlement against Big Tobacco, Blake wound up with a mysterious $50 million payoff.
Blake, according to Wilkie, convinced Scruggs to give Balducci and Patterson $40,000 for an unspecified problem. Balducci had earlier paid $20,000 to Lackey in the attempted bribe and later another $20,000 installment. Blake was not indicted.
Scruggs wouldn't talk to Wilkie about Blake's role in the bribery case. Not surprisingly, Blake would not talk to Wilkie, either. Bowen even called Blake on Wilkie’s behalf.
“He basically told him, ‘There’s no way in hell I’m going to talk to him,’” Wilkie said.
Blake now lives in Birmingham, Ala. Wilkie said he was recently in that city for a book signing.
“He did not come to my signing,” Wilkie said of Blake, provoking laughter from the audience at Turnrow.
A movie deal is in the works for Wilkie’s book. And the Scruggs case is still alive in the courts. Zach Scruggs, who was released from federal prison in August 2009 after serving 14 months, is appealing his conviction.
But Wilkie says the book probably marks the end of his involvement with the Dickie Scruggs saga.
“I certainly don’t have any intention to write a sequel,” he said.
• Contact Charles Corder at ccorder@gwcommonwealth.com.
